Automatic salvage bag for underwater use

ABSTRACT

An improved salvage bag for underwater or undersea use, being specially designed to assist scuba divers, deep-sea divers, or sport scuba divers undertaking the salvaging of small items of treasure from the bottom of lakes, rivers or seas.

[ 51 May 15, 1973 United States Patent [1 1 Hogan U Q U R O F G A B E m Wm TD UN AU M H 2,371,404 3/1945 Mumford......................... .....l14/54 [76] Inventor: Keith A. Hogan, 2226 Howard 3,024,358 3/1962 Grady,Jr................................. 9/8R Street, Omaha, Nebr. 34089 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Jesus D. Sotelo Attorney Keith Misegades et al.

[22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1971 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 178,524

An improved salvage bag for underwater or undersea use, being specially designed to assist scuba divers, deep-sea divers, or sport scuba divers undertaking the om of RWE: 5 4 l 1%. 66 mB "5 H/ mm In c U"... "8 e us .I .f C WM Umw 1]] 218 555 [[l salvaging of small items of treasure from the bott lakes, rivers or seas.

ll4/5l-54, 16.4, 16.5, 16.8; 9/8 R, 10

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENI'LBMAY l 5W5 INVENTOR KEITH A. HO

AUTOMATIC SALVAGE BAG FOR UNDERWATER USE CROSS-REFERENCES TO ART-RELATED PRIOR ART CITATIONS Prior art U.S. patents found in the field of the invention but of cursory interest only are the following:

Cherniak U.S. Pat. No. 1,490,157

Mumford U.S. Pat. No. 2,371,404

Jones U.S. Pat. No. 2,515,715

Rossi U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,982

Alexander U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,559

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container bag for the transport of treasure or goods to be salvaged and raised from an undersea or underwater location to the water surface by automatically changing the bag to a buoyant recovery position. More particularly, the invention relates to and provides an assembly of apparatus for an underwater container, wherein by varying its density the package may be raised or lowered to or from the water surface to a location thereunder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are prior art devices and arrangements known for scuba diving, and the like, which do not adapt themselves for compensation to adjusted positions in the water along a vertical path, and in which there are several, such as four, hoses or tube members for applying air as a lifting medium to the inner volume of a fixed container and a flexible bag securely affixed and communicating therewith.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object therefore of the invention is to provide an inner air lifting volume within a communicating bag and fixed container so that by use of tubes for inflating the volume, the apparatus can be lifted or lowered along a cable passing through the inner volume.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for scuba divers, deep-sea divers or for use in salvaging small items and the like, comprising a flexible and fixed container of integral construction having a plurality of vertically disposed tubular members having inner ends variously extending within the container and having plugs for closing off the free ends of the tubular members.

It is a further object and advantage of the invention, as contemplated by the best mode thereof under 35 U.S.C. l 12, to provide a diving bag apparatus for scuba divers and the like, so that when a diver finds something he wishes carried to the surface, he need only place it within a flexible bag through a zippered opening which can be then closed to water or airtight integrity, and then further, or initially, inflate the bag by a lifting gas. He may seek out additional treasure and place it within the zippered bag, and the bag may be inflated by applying a mouthpiece to a tubular member for in-feeding lifting gas to the bag and allowing buoyant forces to carry the bag and container to the water surface. As the apparatus is carried upward, automatic valve release means provided in the plugs or along the tubular members allow for the escapement of air or water to prevent excessive build-up of pressure within the inner volume of the bag and container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

The FIGURE shows a partly schematic and partly cross-sectioned view of the automatic salvage bag for underwater use according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an automatic salvage bag 10 for underwater use by scuba divers, and the like, and having as an essential component a relatively rigid container 12 of plastic, metal or the like material, and being gas-tight in construction and resistant to water pressure, the rigid container 12 having an inner volume that is integral with an inner volume and in communication with a gas-tight flexible plastic bag 14. The gas bag 14 is fixedly secured to the container by a plastic-to-metal seal or plastic-to-plastic seal 16, as the case may be. The seal may be of a glue or plastic material used in attaining the gas or leakproof seal. The inner volumes of the container 12 and the plastic bag 14 are integrally connected and intercommunicate with each other as is shown.

Passing essentially diametrically through the inner volumes of the container 12 and the plastic bag 14 is a vertically disposed, generally straight, tubular member 20, and a guy line 22 or similar means passes through the tubular member 20, for connecting below to diving apparatus or the like, or may be hand-held by the diver, and to a vessel or mooring means (not shown) at the upper end. The salvage bag 10 may therefore be guided along theline as it is raised or lowered.

There is a plurality of generally vertically disposed tubular members 30,30,30 variously passing and extending through the bottom or lower regions of the salvage bag 10. The tubular members 30 communicate at their inner ends with the inner volumes of the salvage bag 10. The salvage bag 10 may be inflated by a lifting gas or air applied to the lower free end of the tubular member 30, and the gas or air may be under substantial barometric pressure to insure inflation of the plastic bag 14, as shown. The gas or air in the bag 14 is retained therein by use of stops or plugs 32,32 securely inserted or for threadedly engaging with the lower free end of the tubular member. The plugs 32 are detachably secured therefore to each of the ends of the tubular members 30.

When it is desired to inflate the bag 10, the diver or user having gas or air breathing apparatus (not shown) of conventional constructions, may connect his mouthpiece of the breathing apparatus onto one of the tubular members 30 from which the plug 32 is removed. Then gas or air is fed into the bag 10 to a desired level of buoyancy, and the plug 32 is replaced to the tubular member 30. This may be done as often as desired, and in the same fashion the bag 10 can be deflated by one tubular member, and water can be fed into the bag 10 by one of the other opened tubulanmembers until all of the buoyancy is lost. The bag 10 may then be opened along the lines of a closure or zipper 36 in the flexible surface of bag 14 so that articles such as treasure, or the like, may be placed within the bag 10, the zipper reclosed to complete water-tight integrity of the bag 10;

it may then be filled with gas or air to achieve a buoyant condition of the bag lltl for causing it to rise in the water along a line 22. As the bag rises, certain of the plugs 32 contain an automatic escapement or gas release mechanism 40 containing a spring-biased closure member 42, and a spring in chamber 46 to pressure gas or air pressure in the bag 10 at safe levels, but exhausts excess gas or air when released by the spring 44 being overcome by the excessive gas or air pressure in the bag 10.

A hook-receiving member 50 is fixedly secured to the underside of the container 12 for engaging with a hook (not shown) for supporting weights to be lifted or lowered in a direction through the water and having a vertical component'thereof.

In the construction of the tubular member 20, it is of course observed that its ends are sealingly engaged and secured onto the mating portions of the bag 10 by seals 56,58.

The zipper 36 itself may be sealed or glued to the main part of the bag 10 or onto the bag 14, as shown.

When air is pressured into the bag 10, water will be exhausted either through an opened tubular member 30, or through hole arrangements in the automatic valve 40. Water in the bag 10, of course, collects in the lower inner volume therein and provides necessary stabilization and ballast of the bag 10 if it does not contain items to be stored in the inner volume of bag 10.

In the event of securing or for storage purposes, a large loop 60 is provided to hang the bag 10 or to carry it by helicopter or other motion means with its enclosed treasure and the like from place to place.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the true spirit of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiment described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the true spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

ll. An automatic salvage bag for underwater use comprising:

, a relatively rigid container and being gas-tight in con- 4 struction, a gas-tight flexible bag fixedly secured to said rigid container and having an inner gas-tight volume thereof communicating with an inner gastight volume of the container,

a plurality of vertically disposed tubular members variously extending through said communicating inner gas-tight volumes and terminating at exterior ends beneath the container, and

a plug for each of the exterior ends of the tubular members.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said combination of the container and bag has a centrally and diametrically disposed straight tubular member extending therethrough and gas-impermeably secured at entrance and exit portions of the container and bag, respectively, said straight tubular member being constructed to stretch and contract so that the straight tubular member remains essentially straight as said bag is expanded or contracted under forces due to inflating gas; and a guy line passing through said straight tubular member.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein hookreceiving means are affixed beneath the container for supporting weights to be lifted vertically through the water.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the bag is inflatable by the user by connecting his mouthpiece of the divers apparatus onto one of the tubular members having its plug removed, and having the plug replaced after the bag is air-filled or becomes buoyant to a desired amount.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of the plugs is provided with automatic valve release means for the escapement of air or water from the bag and container as pressure may build up during the vertical travel of the apparatus.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the bag is provided with a zipper for opening the inner volume of the integrally constructed bag and container for placing treasure and the like therein, and for forming an air-tight, water-tight closure when the zipper is 

1. An automatic salvage bag for underwater use comprising: a relatively rigid container and being gas-tight in construction, a gas-tight flexible bag fixedly secured to said rigid container and having an inner gas-tight volume thereof communicating with an inner gas-tight volume of the container, a plurality of vertically disposed tubular members variously extending through said communicating inner gas-tight volumes and terminating at exterior ends beneath the container, and a plug for each of the exterior ends of the tubular members.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said combination of the container and bag has a centrally and diametrically disposed straight tubular member extending therethrough and gas-impermeably secured at entrance and exit portions of the container and bag, respectively, said straight tubular member being constructed to stretch and contract so that the straight tubular member remains essentially straight as said bag is expanded or contracted under forces due to inflating gas; and a guy line passing through said straight tubular member.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein hook-receiving means are affixed beneath the container for supporting weights to be lifted vertically through the water.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the bag is inflatable by the user by connecting his mouthpiece of the diver''s apparatus onto one of the tubular members having its plug removed, and having the plug replaced after the bag is air-filled or becomes buoyant to a desired amount.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of the plugs is provided with automatic valve release means for the escapement of air or water from the bag and container as pressure may build up during the vertical travel of the apparatus.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the bag is provided with a zipper for opening the inner volume of the integrally constructed bag and container for placing treasure and the like therein, and for forming an air-tight, water-tight closure when the zipper is closed. 